College Athletics report: Graesser, Canisius to MAAC Championships at ECC

Thursday February 13, 2014 | By:The Sun Staff | Sports

Canisius freshman Hannah Graesser

Freshman Hannah Graesser of Lakeview has burst on to the scene for the Canisius women’s swimming team. Now, the Frontier High School graduate will see what she can do on the MAAC Championship stage. The rookie, already having broken the school’s all-time record in the 50-meter freestyle in a time of 24.09 and 100 free (53.69), will be part of a Canisius team competing at the competition Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 13-15 at ECC’s Burt Flickinger Center. Canisius finished a 7-3 season at the same venue, knocking off Niagara University, 195-93, last month, with Grasser sweeping both spring freestyle races.

Hilbert women beat Caz for second time

The Hilbert College women’s basketball team improved to 4 – 16 overall after their 73-68 non-conference road win against Cazenovia College last week. Natalie Whitman enjoyed another impressive game, posting 20 points and 19 rebounds (8 offensive) for the visitors. Emily Speidel notched a 16-point night and Wyann Jackson gave the Hawks a strong 20-minutes, scoring 10 points and grabbing five rebounds. The Hawks sank seven 3-point shots and held a plus-20 rebounding advantage and lived through Cazenovia’s seven block shots.

Also locally, Alexis Smith of Hamburg scored 16 points in D’Youville’s 68-54 loss to Pitt-Greensburg on Feb. 8. Smith went 5 for 7 from the floor and 6 for 8 from the line. D’Youville fell to 10 – 12 overall and 8 – 7 in the AMCC. Jaimie Warren of Lakeview had 11 points and 11 rebounds, recording her seventh double-double of the season, in Fredonia State’s 81-59 win over New Paltz on Feb. 8. The victory clinched a playoff berth for Fredonia, which is 8 – 6 in the SUNYAC and in fourth place with four games left.

Weaver again AMCC Player of Week

For the second consecutive week, Adam Weaver was selected as the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Player of the Week, on Feb. 3. Weaver earned 86 kills in five matches for a 4.78 kills per set average. He also added 17 digs and seven service aces to his career totals. The senior outside hitter had 36 kills while hitting at a .247 attack percentage clip against three of the top 10 teams in the AVCA Division III poll while the Hawks (3 – 6) were participating at the Golden Flyer Invitational, hosted by Nazareth College over the weekend. Weaver continues to lead the United Volleyball Conference in kills per set as well as the AMCC conference (5.09). He is currently ranked first in kills (219), fourth in digs (42) and third in hitting percentage (.282) in the AMCC.